A
niqāb (
Arabic: "veil or Mask") is a
cloth which covers the face, worn by some
Muslim women as a part of sartorial
hijāb. The niqab is most common in the
Arab countries of the Arabian Peninsula such as
Saudi Arabia,
Yemen,
Bahrain,
Kuwait,
Qatar,
Oman, and the
UAE. It is also common in
Pakistan and some parts of
India.
Women who wear the niqāb are often called niqābīah; this word is used both as a noun and as an adjective. However, the correct form منتقبة muntaqabah (plural muntaqabāt) as "niqābīah" is used in a derogatory manner (much as with "hijābīah" versus محجبة muhajabah).
Because of the wide variety of hijab worn in the Muslim world, it can be difficult to definitively distinguish between one type of veil and another. The terms niqāb and burqa are often incorrectly used interchangeably; a niqab covers the face while a burka covers the whole body from the top of the head to the ground.
Origin
It is sometimes alleged that the face-veil was originally part of women's dress among certain classes in the
Byzantine Empire and was adopted into Muslim culture during the Arab conquest of the Middle East. However, although Byzantine art before Islam commonly depicts women with veiled heads or covered hair, it does not depict women with veiled faces. In addition, the Greek geographer
Strabo, writing in the first century CE, refers to some Persian women veiling their faces; and the early third-century Christian writer
Tertullian clearly refers in his treatise
The Veiling of Virgins to some pagan women of "Arabia" wearing a veil that covers not only their head but also the entire face. These primary sources show that some women in Arabia and Persia veiled their faces long before Islam.
Niqāb in Islam
Rationale
There is a difference of opinion amongst scholars in Islam whether the niqab is an obligatory form of hijab or if it is merely permissible or cultural. The niqab has continued to arouse debate between Muslim scholars and jurists both past and present concerning whether it is
fard (obligatory),
mustahabb (recommended/preferable), or cultural. Many Muslims use the justification for Niqab, that a woman's
awrah in front of unrelated men is her entire body including her face and hands.
Muslim women in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, veil their faces because they believe the face of a woman is considered awrah. Awrah denotes the parts of the body that are not meant to be exposed in public. Wearing the niqab is not exclusive to Salafi Muslims and other Muslims whether Sufi, Shia or Sunni, regard niqab as mustahabb (recommended, an additional act of worship to Allah).
The claimed rationale of the niqāb comes from the Qur'an and Hadith. It was known that the many wives of Muhammad were made to cover themselves around men they did not know. However the Quran explicitly states that the wives of the Prophet are held to a different standard. It is claimed that under Islam the niqāb is a requirement for all women, since womanhood is mentioned along with the wives of Muhammad in the Qur'anic dictat to cover. The following verse from the Qur'an is cited as support for this:}} This verse was in response to harassment on the part of the "hypocrites".
This Quranic verse does not clearly refer to covering the face itself.
It is argued by some Muslims that the reasons for the niqāb are to keep Muslim women from worrying about their appearances and to conceal their looks.
Hadith
The hadith (Arabic plural:ahādīth) are narrations originating from the words and deeds of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
The Arabic word jilbāb is used in the following traditions:
Narrated Aisha (part of a much longer narration): "...When he reached my place in the morning, he saw the figure of a sleeping person and he recognized me on seeing me as he had seen me before the order of compulsory veiling (was prescribed). So I woke up when he recited Istirja' (i.e. "Inna lillahi wa inna llaihi raji'un") as soon as he recognized me. I veiled my face with my head cover at once, and by Allah, we did not speak a single word, and I did not hear him saying any word besides his Istirja'. (Volume: 5, Book Number: 59, Hadith Number: 462)
Narrated Aisha: The woman is to bring down her Jilbāb from over her head and [then place it] upon her face. {Bukhari:6:60:282}, {Sunnan Abu Dawud 32:4091}
Narrated Aisha: The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah in ihrām When they came near, each of us would lower her Jilbāb from her head over her face, and when they passed by we would uncover our faces.
Narrated Aisha: Safwaan ibn al-Mu’attal al-Sulami al Dhakwaani was lagging behind the army. She said, “He came to where I had stopped and saw the black shape of a person sleeping. He recognized me when he saw me, because he had seen me before Hijāb was enjoined. I woke up when I heard him saying ‘Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon (verily to Allaah we belong and unto Him is our return),’ and I covered my face with my Jilbāb
Narrated‘Aasim al-Ahwal: We used to enter upon Hafsah bint Sirīn who had put her Jilbāb thus and covered her face with it, and we would say to her: May Allah have mercy on you. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their (outer) clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment” [al-Noor 24:60]. And she would say to us: What comes after that (of the āyah)? We would say: “But to refrain (i.e. not to discard their outer clothing) is better for them”. And so she said: [Referring to, ‘But to refrain is better for them’], “It is to keep the Jilbāb.”
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbās: Allah commanded the believing women, when going out of their homes for some need, to cover their faces from above their heads with their Jilbābs, leaving one eye(or both) to see the path.
From
Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr, that she said, “We are used to cover our faces from the men, and cut our hair before that in Ihrām (for Hajj).
From
Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr, We would cover our faces while we were Muhrim, and while doing that we would be with Asmā’ bint Abi Bakr As-Siddeeq.
From
Ibn Abi Khaythamah, We entered upon Umm Al-Mu’minīn on Yawm At-Tarwayah and we said to her, ‘Oh Mother of the Believers! Here is a woman who refuses to cover her face and she is a Muhrimah (in ihrām). So ‘Aa’ishah lifted her Khimār from her chest, and covered the woman’s face with it.
Narrated Aisha: "When (the Verse): "They should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna," was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.
Narrated 'Aisha: The Apostle of Allah used to offer the Fajr prayer and some believing women covered with their veiling sheets used to attend the Fajr prayer with him and then they would return to their homes unrecognized
Narrated Um 'Atiya: We were ordered the Apostle of Allah to bring out our menstruating women and veiled women in the religious gatherings and invocation of Muslims on the two 'Eid festivals. These menstruating women were to keep away from their Musalla. A woman asked, "O Allah's Apostle ' What about one who does not have a niqab?" He said, "Let her share the veil of her companion."
From Anas that the Muhammad said: And if one of the women of Paradise looked at the earth, she would fill the whole space between them the earth and the heaven with light, and would fill whatever is in between them, with perfume, and the veil of her face is better than the whole world and whatever is in it."
Narrated Thabit ibn Qays : A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed in the battle. Some of the Companions of the Prophet said to her: You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle of Allah said: You will get the reward of two martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, oh Prophet of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him."
All of a woman is
awrah. Whenever she leaves her home Satan reaches by her."
A woman called Umm Khallad came to the Prophet while she was veiled. She was searching for her son who had been killed in the battle. Some of the Companions of the Prophet said to her: You have come here asking for your son while veiling your face? She said: If I am afflicted with the loss of my son, I shall not suffer the loss of my modesty. The Apostle of Allah said: You will get the reward of two martyrs for your son. She asked: Why is that so, Apostle of Allah? He replied: Because the people of the Book have killed him. (Book Number: 14, Hadith Number: 2482)
Criticism
Sheikh
Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy, previous dean of
Al-Azhar University, called full-face veiling a custom that has nothing to do with the Islamic faith. “The niqab is a cultural tradition and has nothing to do with Islam.”
The decision came from an incident involving a school girl to remove her niqab during a visit to an Al-Azhar school, when Tantawi reportedly said that he would call for an official ban for the face veil in Islamic schools. Tantawi's decision stems from his views that more younger Muslims have lost touch with traditional Islamic scholarship and have come under the influence of extremist imams who have little or no formal training in Islamic scholarship.
Styles
wearing a
niqāb in
Yemen]]
There are many styles of
niqāb and other facial veils worn by Muslim women around the world. The two most common forms are the
half niqāb and the
gulf-style or
full niqāb.
The half niqāb is a simple length of fabric with elastic or ties and is worn around the face. This garment typically leaves the eyes and part of the forehead visible.
The gulf-style or full niqāb completely covers the face. It consists of an upper band that is tied around the forehead, together with a long wide piece of fabric which covers the face, leaving an opening for the eyes. Many full niqāb have two or more sheer layers attached to the upper band, which can be worn flipped down to cover the eyes or left over the top of the head. Contrary to common belief, eyeveils do not generally restrict vision any more than a dark pair of sunglasses would. While a person looking at a woman wearing a niqāb with an eyeveil would not be able to see her eyes, the woman wearing the niqāb would be able to see out through the thin fabric.
Other less common and more cultural or national forms of niqāb include the Afghani style burqa, a long pleated gown that extends from the head to the feet with a small crocheted grille over the face.
Iran
The Niqab was traditionally worn in Southern
Iran from the arrival of
Islam until the end of the
Qajar era. There were many regional variations of Niqāb, which were also called
Ruband or
Pushiye.
The 20th century ruler, Reza Shah, banned all variations of face veil in 1936, as incompatible with his modernistic ambitions. Reza Shah ordered the police to arrest women who wore the niqāb and to remove their face veils by force. This policy outraged the clerics who believed it was obligatory for women to cover their faces. Many women gathered at the Goharshad Mosque in Mashhad with their faces covered to show their objection to the niqāb ban.
Between 1941 and 1979 wearing the niqāb was no longer against the law, but it was considered by the government to be a “badge of backwardness." During these years, wearing the niqāb and chador became much less common and instead most religious women wore headscarves only. Fashionable hotels and restaurants refused to admit women wearing niqābs. High schools and universities actively discouraged or even banned the niqāb, though the headscarf was tolerated.
After the new government of Islamic Republic was established, the niqāb was not enforced by officials.
In modern Iran, the wearing of niqāb is not common and is only worn by certain ethnic minorities and a minority of Arab Muslims in the southern Iranian coastal cities, such as Bandar Abbas, Minab and Bushehr. Some women in the Arab-populated province of Khuzestan still wear niqab.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi women are not required by law to wear the niqāb. However, in cities such as
Dammam,
Riyadh,
Mecca,
Medina and
Abha most women observe niqāb as tradition and it remains
de facto obligatory. Women may be harassed by the
religious police if they do not cover their faces.
Jeddah, as the most liberal city of
Saudi Arabia, is an exception.
The Saudi niqāb usually leaves a long open slot for the eyes; the slot is held together by a string or narrow strip of cloth. Many also have two or more sheer layers attached to the upper band, which can be worn flipped down to cover the eyes. Although a person looking at a woman wearing a niqāb with an eyeveil would not be able to see her eyes, she would still be able to see out through the thin fabric. In 2008, the religious authority in Mecca, Mohammad Habadan called on women to wear veils that reveal only one eye, so that women would not be encouraged to use eye make-up.
According to Saudi Arabia's Shariah law, women's clothing should meet the following conditions:
Women must cover their entire body, but they are allowed to expose one or both eyes in necessity.
Women should wear abaya and niqāb thick enough to conceal what is underneath, and the abaya should be loose-fitting.
Women should not wear brightly coloured clothes or clothes that are adorned so that they may attract men's attention.
Syria
1200 niqab-wearing teachers were transferred to administrative duties in the summer of 2010 in
Syria because the face veil was undermining the secular policies followed by the state as far as education is concerned. In the near future, other ministers are expected to do the same as Ali Saad, the Syrian Minister of Education.
On 6 April 2011 it was reported that teachers would be allowed to once again wear the niqab.
Yemen
Since antiquity, the Arab tradition of wearing the niqāb has been practiced by women living in
Yemen. Traditionally, girls begin wearing veils in their teenage years.
Acceptance of the niqāb is not universal in Yemen. Senior member of the
Al-Islah political party,
Tawakel Karman, removed her niqāb at a human rights conference in 2004 and since then has called for "other women and female activists to take theirs off".
Enforcement, encouragement and bans
Enforcement
Covering the face was enforced by the
Taliban regime with the traditional Afghan face veil called the
burkha. While some women wholeheartedly embraced the rules, others protested.
Non-governmental enforcement of niqab is found in many parts of the Muslim world. In Saudi Arabia, all Saudi Muslim women are required to wear the niqab in cities such as Mecca, Medina and Taif. In other cities such as Dammam and Abha, women are not required to wear it by law but it remains de facto obligatory. In southern cities also, most women observe niqab. The Saudi niqāb usually leaves a long open slot for the eyes; the slot is held together by a string or narrow strip of cloth. In 2008, the religious authority in Mecca, Mohammad Habadan called on women to wear veils that reveals only one eye, so that women would not be encouraged to use eye makeup.
These women often wear green banners with Arabic messages in them. Female candidates from the Hamas party in the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections campaigned in niqābs, even in photographs. Since Hamas took over Gaza strip during the Battle of Gaza (2007) women are wearing Niqab in large numbers.
Sultaana Freeman gained national attention in 2003 when she sued the U.S. state of Florida for the right to wear a niqāb for her driver's license photo. However, a Florida appellate court ruled that there was no violation in the state requiring her to show her face to a camera in a private room with only a female employee to take the picture, in exchange for the privilege of driving.
In 2005, a non-Muslim student at Eastern Michigan University spent a semester wearing a niqāb for a class project (she referred to the face veil as a 'burqa,' a term which can be used to describe both the full, "gulf-style" niqab she wore and the Afghani style head-to-toe garment). Her experiences, such as feeling like no one wanted to be near her, led her to conclude that conservative Muslim dress is disapproved of in the United States.
The niqāb is outlawed in the Muslim country of Tunisia. In Turkey, where the overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim, the traditional womenswear in cities at the turn of the twentieth century was called çarşaf (an outer garment similar to the Iranian chador) which would be accompanied by a piece of semi-transparent clothing to cover the lower face, called peçe. Although this combination is still being worn in some localities, the practice of covering the face has largely died off. In Turkey today, niqabi women, just like women wearing hijab, cannot work as public servants, neither can they continue studies at schools, including the private schools. Although there is no single law banning niqab at private companies, it would be nearly impossible for a niqabi woman to find work.
In February 2010, an Arab country's ambassador to Dubai had his marriage annulled after discovering that his bride was cross-eyed and had facial hair. The woman had worn a niqab on the occasions that the couple had met prior to the wedding. The ambassador informed the Sharia court that he had been deliberately deceived by the bride's mother, who had shown him photographs of the bride's sister. He only discovered the problem when he lifted the niqab to kiss his bride. The court annulled the marriage, but refused a claim for compensation.
Europe
In
socialist Yugoslavia wearing
niqab or forcing women to wear it were forbidden in order of removing subjugation of women to men.
Although the burqa is a more emphatic symbol, the niqāb has also been prominent in political controversies on Islamic dress in Europe. The Netherlands government plans a legal ban on face-covering Islamic clothing, popularly described as the 'burqa ban', which includes the niqāb.
On 29 April 2010, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives adopted a law prohibiting people to wear "attire and clothing masking the face in such a way that it impairs them to be recognizable". The penalty for violating this directive can run from up to 14 days imprisonment and a 250 euro fine. Even though there is no direct mention of the burqa or niqāb, this decision practically does prohibit its use in public spaces. This new law has spurred a lot of anger amongst members of the traditional islamist community.
In the United Kingdom, comments by Jack Straw, MP started a national debate over the wearing of the "veil" (niqāb), in October 2006. This was further inflamed by extensive media coverage of the case of Aishah Azmi, a teaching assistant in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, who lost her appeal against suspension from her job for wearing the niqāb while teaching English to young children whose first language is different. It was decided that being unable to see her face prevented the children from learning effectively. Azmi argued that it was helping the children understand different people's beliefs.
On 13 July 2010 France's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a ban on wearing burqa-style Islamic veils. The legislation would forbid face-covering Muslim veils in all public places in France and calls for fines or citizenship classes, or both. The bill also is aimed at husbands and fathers — anyone convicted of forcing someone else to wear the garb risks a year of prison and a fine, with both penalties doubled if the victim is a minor.
In Italy, by a Law issued in 1975, is strictly forbidden wearing any dress or supply that could hide the face of a person. Penalties (fines and imprisonment) are provided for such behaviour.
North America
United States
The niqab in its extreme forms is uncommon in the US. In 2002, Sultaana Freeman, (aka Sandra Keller, who converted to Islam in 1997 when marrying a Muslim man) sued the U.S. state of Florida for the right to wear a niqāb for her driver's license photo.
Canada
Elections Canada, an independent agency responsible for
elections and
referendums, stated that Muslim women can cover their faces while voting. The decision was criticized by all major
political parties of Canada except the
New Democrats who did not oppose this decision.
More recently the Conservative Government has introduced legislation which would bar Muslim women from voting if they show up at polling stations with a veiled face. This law was proposed in the wake of the Government's recent dispute with Elections Canada, which has refused to bar people with veiled faces from polling places.
The niqāb became an issue in the 2007 election in Quebec after it became public knowledge that women wearing the niqāb were allowed to vote under the same rules as electors who did not present photo ID, namely, by sworn oath in the presence of a third party who could vouch for their identity. The chief electoral officer received an overwhelming number of complaints that this policy was too accommodating of cultural minorities (a major theme in the election), and had to be accompanied by bodyguards due to death threats. All three major political parties were against the policy, with the Parti Québécois and Action démocratique du Québec vying for position as most opposed. The policy was soon changed to require all voters to show their face, even if they did not carry photo ID. However, Quebec residents who wear the niqāb stated that they had no issue with showing their faces for official purposes, such as voting. Salam Elmenyawi of the Muslim Council of Montreal estimated that only 10 to 15 Muslim voters in all of the province wear the niqāb, and that since their veils have become controversial, most would probably not vote due to threats and concern for their safety.
In October 2009, the Muslim Canadian Congress called for a ban on burqa and niqāb (though not the hijab), saying that they have "no basis in Islam." Spokesperson Farzana Hassan cited public safety issues, such as identity concealment, as well as gender equality, stating that wearing the burqa and niqāb is "a practice that marginalizes women."[
]
See also
French ban on full length Islamic veils
Islamic dress controversy in Europe
List of types of sartorial hijab
Niqab in Egypt
References
Further reading
External links
In Defense of Niqab in Islamic Law
Niqab Page
Religion and Ethics - Beliefs: Niqab, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), 13 April 2007.
Modesty Gowns for Female Patients, BBC, 5 September 2006
The Veil and the British Male Elite, Social Science Research Network (SSRN)
The Obligation of Veiling
Niqab is Not Obligatory
The Last Straw!
A dissertation on 'Niqaab- its Islamic ruling and controversy in the West'
Why the Veil Liberates Women
Niqab Debate in Egypt: Divided Scholars
Category:Islamic dress (female)
Category:Arabic clothing
Category:Veils
Category:Purdah
